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Lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus var. pubescens) is a beautiful yellow-flowered orchid native to my region of western Canada. I had read in the book Magic and Medecine of Plants that lady's slipper root had once been used as a substitute for valerian root, and there was a little warning that large doses could cause 'giddiness, headache and hallucinations'. I thought this sounded intriguing, so when I discovered that my local herb store actually carried lady's slipper root, I immediately bought some. It was the most expensive herb they had, but I figured I had to try it at least once.

I decided to start off with what I thought we be a small dose - one gram of the dried roots steeped as tea. The roots had a really bizarre smell to them, almost a bit of a petrochemical scent. If you've ever smelled a lady's slipper orchid, you should know what I mean. It certainly didn't have the sickly sweet smell of valerian. I settled back with my first cup of tea, looking for nothing more than a little sedation so I could get to sleep easier. So I was quite surprised when, about 20 minutes later and halfway through the first cup of tea, I started to feel like I was floating. I poured out a second cup of tea, but never managed to finish it as the tea now proceeded to kick my ass. I was incredibly sedated, all I could do was lie on my bed. This overwhelming blissful feeling swept through me, and everything in my vision seemed to wave a bit. Also my sense of pain had completely vanished. The aching knee which had been plaguing me before I drank the tea now felt just fine.

It reminded me quite a bit of the effects of opium, except stronger. I had been a bit dissapointed when I tried opium, but lady's slipper held every desirable effect I had heard of regarding opiates. Euphoria, analgesia, sedation. It also proved quite effective as a remedy for insomnia. As I lay blissed out on my bed, I sort of went into a trance, and must have fallen asleep because I didn't wake again until my alarm went off the next morning. I didn't notice any residual effects that morning, except that I felt more rested and refreshed than normal. I wonder how many other people have tried this plant.

it probably was mentioned before but please do not buy or collect wild specimens of this flower. it is extremely rare. i have only found 4 plants and3 of the 4 were in within a meter of each other. and i alk aroudn lots and bikelots in teh woods

PLEASE DO NOT DIG THESE FRAGILE PLANTS IN THE WILD . I actively hunt the species and have some friends who grow them . The success rate for transplanting the plants even for orchid growers is low unless in a controled greenhouse . To transplant you need the perfect shade and slope with a good humus soil , and there is a corelation with a certain red yeast . Plants that are old and established can die off with just a whim for any reason . However if you wish to mess with this plant there are orchid nuseries who will sell you plants , though once you have gotten one of these beautiful plants to grow I doubt that you could dig it up for the narcotic properties . Be warned , once you are around this plant you will find that it is addictive and not becouse of the supposed drug properties . Also once you find a slipper patch it becomes more highly prized than a morel patch and a damn sight rarer .

--------------------"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
- Thomas Jefferson